This event is designed for Community Foundations, United Ways, Hospital and University Foundations and more, to learn, connect and collaborate. We hope you will join us in both reflecting back on what the past year has taught us about our communities’ extraordinary resilience and in building the knowledge, skills, and connections to plan for a brighter future!
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Laurie Paarlberg, Lily Family School of Philanthropy
Laurie Paarlberg holds the Charles Stewart Mott Chair on Community Foundations at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and is an affiliate faculty in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (IUPUI). Her nonprofit research focuses on the changing nature of community philanthropy, with a particular focus on strategic shifts in grant making by local United Ways and community foundations. With changing demographics in local communities, she is also interested in issues of equity and diversity in grant making and the rural/urban divide.
Brenda Solarzano, Headwaters Health Foundation
Brenda has spent her career working for good in the philanthropic world on issues related to health policy, the health care safety net and community health issues affecting vulnerable populations. She is a strategy, evaluation, program and grant making guru with an eye toward local collaboration and a keen sense that change happens when communities come together to engage in good work. She is invested in the work of the Headwaters Foundation because she believes every child deserves a healthy start to life.
Jim Taylor, Board Source
As vice president of leadership initiatives and education, Jim Taylor focuses on leading BoardSource’s efforts to position nonprofit boards for stronger leadership on diversity, inclusion, and equity. This includes leading the organization’s work to spark and support understanding, action, and change at the board level on these issues; serving as an external, speaker, and writer; developing new resources and programming; and partnering with peer organizations. Prior to joining BoardSource in December 2018, Jim held several leadership roles in community development and diversity, equity, and inclusion at organizations that span the corporate, nonprofit, and local government sectors,
Dr. Lisa Courtice, United Way of Central Ohio
Lisa S. Courtice is president and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio. Under her leadership, United Way is helping to mobilize the central Ohio community to reduce poverty. Dr. Courtice is a Ph.D. psychologist with over twenty-five years of experience working in nonprofit leadership having served for over ten years as the CEO, Co-CEO and clinical director of agencies directly providing services to those living in poverty in Ohio. For the last thirteen years she has served as executive vice president and leader of community research and grants management of The Columbus Foundation.
Breakout Session Speakers
Dora Anim, Greater Cincinnati Community Foundation
Dora Anim is the Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Cincinnati Community Foundation, responsible for helping drive growth, transformation, and results at the organization. Previously, she worked with the Healthcare Collaborative, managing healthcare improvement initiatives for a diverse group of stakeholders. She believes in a “think big” approach to philanthropy, and applying that to GCCF’s commitment to racial equity.
Mike Bell, Davis Health System Foundation
Mike Bell is Executive Director of Davis Health System Foundation in Elkins, WV, where he also serves as health system director for volunteer services and pastoral care. Prior to joining DHS, Mike served as Executive Director of Suncoast Hospice Foundation in Clearwater, Florida, and Vice President for Community Development at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee. Mike also serves as an adjunct professor of nonprofit leadership at Davis & Elkins College and is the current Board President of Charitable Gift Planners of West Virginia.
Dave Clark, Woodlands Development Group
Dave Clark is the Executive Director of the Woodlands Development Group. In this capacity he manages programs related to community planning, housing construction, neighborhood and downtown revitalization, and small business lending and support. Dave also brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit organizational development, strategic planning, land use planning, and water resource protection.
Bonnie Gettys, Barry Community Foundation
Bonnie Gettys is the founding President of the Barry Community Foundation (BCF). The initial investment of $350,000 has grown to over $40,000,000 under her leadership. Bonnie served as the first paid “staffer” for the BCF Youth Advisory Council, a component fund that was created through a challenge by the Kellogg Foundation and the council of Michigan Foundations.
Zac Kester, Charitable Allies
Zac Kester is the Executive Director and Managing Attorney of Charitable Allies. With over a decade of experience as an attorney, Zac advocates and pursues justice for nonprofits and their stakeholders daily. Mr. Kester is a recipient of the 2018 Leadership in Law Award from the Indiana Lawyer and has spoken at a variety of events, including those hosted by the United Way of Central Indiana, Charitable Advisors, National Business Institute, and Nonprofit Legal Clinic.
Kelly Shafer, Suttle & Stalnaker CPAs
Kelly Shafer has over 15 years of experience in public accounting. As a member of the audit and consulting department of the firm, her primary focus has been on serving clients in the financial institution, higher education, governmental, and nonprofit sectors. Kelly currently holds a seat on the board of directors as Treasurer of Education Elevators and the Glotfelty Foundation.
Carrie Staton, Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center
Carrie M. Staton is the Director of the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University. She manages programs and projects related to community engagement, education, research, and collaborative development. She has published case studies on brownfield redevelopment in industry journals and textbooks, and has presented at national and international conferences on brownfields and community development.
Margaret Stout, West Virginia University
Margaret Stout is a Professor of Public Administration at West Virginia University. Her research explores the role of public and nonprofit practitioners in achieving social, economic, and environmental justice. Following her first career as a practitioner, Professor Stout continues a passion for community development through integrated action research and service-learning with her graduate students.
Jeffrey Taylor, United Methodist Foundation
Jeff Taylor is the President of the United Methodist Foundation of West Virginia, which serves most of West Virginia, and Garrett County, Maryland. Jeff is a member of the WV State Bar. He serves on the Executive Committee of Charitable Gift Planners of West Virginia. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Methodist Theological School in Ohio and on the Board of Trustees of the United Methodist Higher Education in Nashville, TN.
Susan Turnbull, Personal Legacy Advisors
Susan Turnbull is the founder and Principal of Personal Legacy Advisors. A professional writer, speaker and workshop facilitator, she is the author of The Wealth of Your Life: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creating Your Ethical Will, co-author of Across Generations: A Five Step Guide for Creating an Expression of Donor Intent and designer of LifeLegacy Cards, prompts for insightful conversation and writing.
We will be adding more speaker bios as we receive them!